Relax, Reconnect, and Rejuvenate at the King and Prince

The historic King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort is the only luxury hotel on beautiful and charming St. Simons Island, GA, located 60 miles north of Jacksonville, FL; 65 miles south Savannah, GA. It is situated at the southeast end of St. Simons Island, where the island’s best beaches are. There’s so much going on at King and Prince that their activities merit a separate article.

Now in its 76th year, the King and Prince is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America.

Guest Rooms

On arrival, we were greeted at a hotel reception desk and shown to our room. The room was spacious and very well furnished with a comfortablesofa, coffee table, a work desk with two chairs, a big flat-screen TV, a DVD player, a room safe and a bed, of course. The bathroom was huge and the toiletries provided were beautifully presented in environmentally friendly packaging.

There was also a small balcony with two chairs and a table. This was very

King Ocean View Room

comfortable both for snacking and for being able to use our computers outside. The resort offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout so this was very handy, as it enabled both of us to go online at the same time.

For those who don’t take their own computers everywhere with them, the resort also provides a business center where guests can go online using the resort’s computers, which are equipped with printers in case you need to print anything out.

During the check-in process we were given an attractive map of the resort to help us get oriented. As well as the guest accommodation, there are several public areas for guests to eat, drink, and play, or just sit quietly enjoying the superb views of the white sandy beach facing the Atlantic Ocean.

There is an array of guest accommodations (including seasonal and special discounts) for every style and budget:

Resort Guest Rooms: Located in the historic buildings with ocean, partial ocean or resort views, the resort’s most economically-priced guest rooms offer one king or two queen beds, yet offer the luxurious décor.

Beach Villas and Guesthouses: These two- and three-bedroom villas offer a patio or balcony with either an ocean front or partial ocean view, combining living and dining room and a fully equipped kitchen with place settings for eight. Both the North and South Villas include their own pools and separate gated parking areas.

Resort Residences: The King and Prince presents these seven gracious Guest Homes, each with its own highly unique ambiance and features.

The resort has three swimming pools: A heated indoor pool and hot tub, and two outdoor pools.

Dining

The historic Delegal Dining Room, famed for its stunning stained glass window murals and ocean vistas, hosts the resort’s “Southern Charm Sunday Brunch” as well as the Legendary Friday Night Seafood Buffet and other holiday buffets.

The King’s Tavern is open daily for lunch and dinner and offers the only ocean front dining on St. Simons Island. Offering a delicious selection of fresh local delights, dine ocean side choosing from chef inspired soups, salads and sandwiches or try the signature Low Country Shrimp & Grits,

Paradise Beach Bar and Grill Open daily at 11:00 a.m. March through October weather permitting. This is where island time truly begins and where food and fun become one. This is ocean front dining at its best. Enjoy an ultra-casual lunch with a wide variety of choices, as well as their signature cocktails like the King & Prince Lifesaver or the Confusion in Paradise.

The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment Cottage

Massage at The King and Prince

For those who like being pampered there is the award-winning Royal Treatment Cottage, which offers a wide variety of treatments. Most of the treatments are derived from traditional Eastern traditions dating back thousands of years and given a contemporary take. You can choose from the custom cottage, Swedish, therapeutic or sports-specific treatment, as well as reflexology and aromatherapy.

The setting is an historic beach cottage on the resort grounds just steps from the sands and seabreezes of the Atlantic. Here an intimate seaside retreat has been created where the utmost attention is given to experiences that soothe and treatments that rejuvenate.

The front porch with its comfy chaises invite you into the calming atmosphere inside where the casual warmth and refreshing decor of a quaint beach cottage are right at home with its indulgent and therapeutic elements. A fireside relaxation lounge, changing cabanas and quiet treatment rooms all ensure a tranquil experience. And while at The Royal Treatment Cottage for their treatments, guests enjoy the use of robes, sandles and totes for personal belongings. Complimentary bottled water is provided with juices and teas available.

As you can see, the resort has everything for those seeking tranquility and, as you’ll also see from my next articles about leisure activities and dining at the King and Prince, there’s lots to do. However, it’s worth a mention that the resort does not only cater to vacationers. You can also do business in this amazing environment.

There is more than 10, 000 sq. ft. of ocean front meeting, conference and function space, with premier catering, wedding, and special event services. The Sydney Lanier Ballroom can accommodate 70 to 350 people and offers teleconferencing, as well as state-of-the-art audio and video facilities.

Finally, it’s definitely worth mentioning the staff. The staff was truly excellent. They did everything they could to ensure the comfort of their guests, and I really couldn’t praise them highly enough.
I had spent four days at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort in St. Simons Island, GA, fine dining at a fantastic hotel restaurants, touring the island and making new friends with the local residents I met in the village. My nights were spent in the newly renovated room cushioned in a king-sized bed in the resort’s Oceanfront Building featuring dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony overlooking the resort’s pools and the Atlantic Ocean.

On this last day I sat alone on the steps leading to the beach on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. In the pre-dawn darkness, a cup of coffee in hand, I anxiously waited to greet the day.

St. Simons Island Beach

The clear, starry sky had whispers of clouds. The air was absolutely silent, but filled with the salty smell of the sea. The deep purple night gradually gave way to shades of red. Day was at last beginning.

As the sun rose, the first sight was the arc of yellow shimmered on the ocean like an impressionist’s painting. Sea birds and people seemed to show up at the same time. I caught sight of baby dolphins coming up for air as they made their way out to sea with the ebbing tides. Flocks of geese made their way north in their famous v-formations. It was the perfect end to a perfect vacation.

All in all, if you’re planning a luxury holiday in the Georgia Sea Islands I suggest you look a bit further than the usual well-known haunts and give St. Simons a try. And if you do decide to visit St. Simons, then where better to stay than the King and Prince Resort?

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort is located on historic St. Simons Island in Georgia and is easily accessible by either car or air. Island exits from I-95 are just 15 minutes from St. Simons. The Jacksonville International Airport is just 60 miles away and the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is less than 70 miles away. Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is a quick 20-minute drive, with three incoming Delta Connection flights daily.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island

“What kid in all of us wouldn’t want to find treasure?” - Cap Fendig, St. Simons native and 2008 presidential candidate

St. Simons Island is that gleaming treasure. Choose a five hour drive, or a quick flight from Atlanta, as you travel back to a more gracious era. If St. Simons is the treasure, then the crowning jewel is The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort. Opened as a seaside dance club in 1935, you feel enveloped in history as you step inside the grand lobby. Overlooking the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, it is not hard to imagine Jay Gatsby holding court while enjoying a gin and tonic at the bar.

Aerial View of The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

Accommodations

With a wide variety of rooms, villas and private cottages, the resort has something for everyone. You may select a romantic king-bedded room facing oceanfront or a cottage for the entire family that has a full kitchen with all the amenities. All you have to do is pick up some fresh Georgia shrimp for the grill.

Amenities
Four outdoor pools and two hot tubs dot the property, with an additional heated indoor pool adjacent to the lobby. If golf is your passion, complimentary transportation whisks you to the resort’s Hampton Club Golf Course, while giving you a guided tour of the island as an added bonus. Do you crave a massage? Wander over to the cozy Royal Treatment Cottage to release any stress.

Dining
The Friday night seafood buffet at the Delegal Dining Room is not to be missed. Trays are laden with crab legs, fried and freshly shucked oysters, boiled, fried and sauteed shrimp along with a carving station and an impressive array of side dishes and desserts. A signature dish of pecan-encrusted tilapia in an amaretto sauce had me wishing I had asked for the recipe. If you are looking for a place off-property, try Saltwater Cowboy, just outside the entrance to the resort for delicious steak.